Duffel bag - Finished!
Holy crap, I did not expect to get almost all the way through that bag today. It wasn't exactly a hard project, but with strap and lots of pockets, it added up to a lot of little steps. (And a few lightly scalded spots on my fingertips, because I have trouble with irons occasionally!)
I made a few changes that helped - for one, I hate bias tape with a fiery, burning passion, especially on multiple layers of quilted fabric. So instead, I used my nice new overlock foot to zigzag the inside edges as a seam finish, rather than encasing them as the pattern called for.
I did the same thing on the side seams, although that didn't look quite so pretty. I have issues shaping bag sides like that, so it was more awkward, but the outside looks fine and the inside seams are mostly finished, at least.
The pattern calls for loops to be sewn onto the outside of the bag, which I changed to put the loops into the side seams. Should make them sturdier as well as neater, which is good since I do want to make and add a shoulder strap. I also did them out of more quilted fabric instead of the cotton , so that'll also make them stronger.
The very little bit I have left to do - sew the cover around the cardboard that sits in the bottom to give it rigidity, and make a shoulder strap, for which I have to go get more fabric and clips. Plus I'll use either double-sided tape or some double-sided interfacing to secure the cardboard to the bottom of the bag - the pattern doesn't call for it, but it won't stay in place otherwise.
So here's what it looks like finished!
The outside of the bag:
The inside pockets:
It has a pocket on each face, one on each side, and three segmented pockets on each inside face. Lots and lots of places to stash tools, cell phones, pens, or whatever! I doubt I'll carry this as a purse once its life as a toolbag is complete, because it isn't big enough for the extent of pack rat that I am, but it's a nice size to carry my phone, Kindle, and snack food over to joyfulfeather's place, for instance. And it should be a nice size for hauling my tools out to the test site. (I only have a few small hand tools and electronics connectors, so I don't need anything huge for that.)
Next project - probably my first attempt at jewelry-making, trying a chain necklace or choker to match the ear wrap joyfulfeather gave me for Christmas. Should give me something to play with next weekend!
I made a few changes that helped - for one, I hate bias tape with a fiery, burning passion, especially on multiple layers of quilted fabric. So instead, I used my nice new overlock foot to zigzag the inside edges as a seam finish, rather than encasing them as the pattern called for.
I did the same thing on the side seams, although that didn't look quite so pretty. I have issues shaping bag sides like that, so it was more awkward, but the outside looks fine and the inside seams are mostly finished, at least.
The pattern calls for loops to be sewn onto the outside of the bag, which I changed to put the loops into the side seams. Should make them sturdier as well as neater, which is good since I do want to make and add a shoulder strap. I also did them out of more quilted fabric instead of the cotton , so that'll also make them stronger.
The very little bit I have left to do - sew the cover around the cardboard that sits in the bottom to give it rigidity, and make a shoulder strap, for which I have to go get more fabric and clips. Plus I'll use either double-sided tape or some double-sided interfacing to secure the cardboard to the bottom of the bag - the pattern doesn't call for it, but it won't stay in place otherwise.
So here's what it looks like finished!
The outside of the bag:
The inside pockets:
It has a pocket on each face, one on each side, and three segmented pockets on each inside face. Lots and lots of places to stash tools, cell phones, pens, or whatever! I doubt I'll carry this as a purse once its life as a toolbag is complete, because it isn't big enough for the extent of pack rat that I am, but it's a nice size to carry my phone, Kindle, and snack food over to joyfulfeather's place, for instance. And it should be a nice size for hauling my tools out to the test site. (I only have a few small hand tools and electronics connectors, so I don't need anything huge for that.)
Next project - probably my first attempt at jewelry-making, trying a chain necklace or choker to match the ear wrap joyfulfeather gave me for Christmas. Should give me something to play with next weekend!